Hyde’s maturity transforms back into key cog in OSU’s offense

Carlos Hyde has grown — and grown up — quite a bit in just two seasons under Urban Meyer and become the coach’s first running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

Todd Porter CantonRep.com Special Projects Editor @toddporter

There always has been a misperception of Ohio State's new offense. Urban Meyer didn't come to Columbus to reinvent the wheel.

He has said time and again there were talented players on the roster when he took over last season. The thing Meyer didn't try to do was take square pegs and fit them into round holes.

Michigan is paying for Rich Rodriguez's recruiting of players for a spread offense that relied on an athlete to play quarterback, not necessarily one with throwing ability, either.

Meyer analyzed Ohio State's roster and knew he had Braxton Miller, an athlete playing quarterback that Meyer believed could learn how to become a complete quarterback.

What he also knew was Ohio State's roster was stacked at running back, and Carlos Hyde was a player he hoped would emerge.

It took a bit a time, but Hyde has emerged — surpassing an important milestone and becoming a big reason the third-ranked Buckeyes take an unbeaten record in to Saturday's noon game at Michigan.

Hyde, though, was no overnight sensation in Meyer's offense.

"He was immature a couple of years ago. Like really immature," Meyer said.

Hyde has grown into the first 1,000-yard running back in a Meyer offense. He is averaging an obscene 7.7 yards a carry. That average would be fourth in the country, but Hyde doesn't appear in the national rankings because he has played in only eight games.

Meyer suspended Hyde for the first three games because of his involvement in an altercation at a Columbus bar over the summer. Police dropped the charges against Hyde. Meyer still kept the punishment.

Hyde has tried to make up for lost ground, and he has done an impressive job. Since becoming the No. 1 back, Hyde has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last six games. He went for 246 on 24 carries against Illinois and has 1,064 on 138 carries.

He has been tackled behind the line of scrimmage just once this season. It was against Illinois on OSU's final offensive play of the first half when he was dropped for a 2-yard loss on third-and-1. Before that, Hyde carried it 104 times without a loss.

"It (rushing for 1,000 yards) means a lot," Hyde said. "Definitely for those guys up front and the tight ends and receivers. To be able to block for a 1,000-yard back is big for them. It all starts up front. If they're having success, then I usually have success. I give credit to those guys — the offensive line, tight ends and receivers — because they do a great job of blocking."

Meyer's suspension seemed both to light a fire under Hyde and open his eyes. He has put himself into consideration to be a first-round NFL Draft pick.

"Sometimes it takes a situation where you think almost everything is taken away from you to take care of focusing of what's important on and off the field," Meyer said. "He's been real good."

A year ago, Hyde tipped the scales at close to 245 pounds. He now is playing at about 230, and it's evident in his burst and breakaway speed.

"He handles his business," Meyer said. "He's 230 as opposed to 240 and some change. He's much faster. The longest run last year, someone said it was 20 yards. I can't remember one over 8. He's got acceleration now. He's playing very aggressive. Plus the chemistry between the offensive line and him, it's really neat to watch."

Maybe the most impressive stat for Hyde isn't just his season average of 7.7 a carry — but that in the fourth quarter, Hyde gets stronger. He is averaging 10.1 yards a carry in the fourth and he has put teams away scoring five of his 13 touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Then there's Hyde on first down, which is one of the reasons Miller is having more success throwing the football. Of Hyde's 138 carries, 71 have come on first down for an average of 8.6 yards. Second-and-short makes for an easy passing down.

To put all of OSU's rushing success on Hyde's shoulders isn't fair. The offensive line — Jack Mewhort, Corey Linsley, Marcus Hall, Andrew Norwell, Taylor Decker — have grown into one of the best lines in the last 20 years.

"Think about where they came from," Meyer said. "A lot of those guys weren't playing, and the ones who were, weren't playing very good. Jack Mewhort is a big part of their success. Corey Linsley, Norwell and Marcus Hall have all bought in, and now Decker has. The culture created in that group is really the reason why."